Local FFA seniors awarded state honor

SHERIDAN — Several local FFA members got to close out their high school careers with some recognition by the organization.

Seven students from two local chapters received the state degree award recently, which would be equivalent to earning All-State honors in athletics.

“It says a lot for our hard work,” said Maggie Frederickson, one of the honorees from the John B. Kendrick Club at Sheridan High School. “We start as freshmen and attaining the state degree says a lot about us.”

In order to earn the state honor, basic steps have to be achieved like learning the FFA Creed and reciting it from memory, also learning Robert’s Rule of Order for Parlimentary Procedure.

The most important aspect of earning a state degree is the completion of a larger project. It may often involve an agricultural theme, for instance Frederickson’s project involved training and selling horses.However, it may branch out into a business theme. For instance Jin Woo Kim’s project involved fuel and oil distribution. Kim has been president of the Kendrick chapter for the last two years.

The final step is being interviewed by state FFA officers. The winners are chosen by a committee of state agricultural teachers. The state degree also opens doors to other opportunities in FFA. There is a national degree available to state degree winners. Also anyone wanting to run for state FFA office has to be a state degree holder.

(The most important) thing is the skills I have learned, how to run a meeting and talk to others,” Kim said. “How to have a well-rounded life.”Kendrick FFA advisor Nick Siddle said the students should have a sense of accomplishment winning the award.“They have spent four years working on their projects, working on their leadership skills and I am proud of what they have done,” he said.

The students are also grateful for the guidance of Siddle and Ward Cotton, who also advises the Kendrick chapter.

“I don’t think we would have accomplished as individuals what we are with out Mr. Siddle and Mr. Cotton pushing us,” Frederickson said.

Degree recipients will be recognized at the Wyoming State FFA Convention, to be held April 8 in Cheyenne. This year 179 students from 44 chapters across the state were awarded the degree.

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